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| Preface to the First Edition | View |
| Preface to the Second Edition | View |
| Journals of the Society | View |
| In the Beginning | View |
| Society Members | View |
| In Quest of an Observatory | View |
| Public Displays | View |
| The Blackwell Donation | View |
| The Site At Last | View |
| Building the Observatory | View |
| The New World of the Zeiss | View |
| People and Events | View |
| The Matauri Bay Solar Eclipse | View |
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In Quest of an Observatory
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The oldest surviving minute book to hand in compiling these notes opens on October 20, 1948, to a scene of great activity in trying to get a new observatory - or at least a new site for the old hut from the university which had been removed the year before and which according to one member had collapsed when one corner post was removed.
The feeling had developed that the best prospects lay in getting a new, even if temporary building, and the proposed site lay in the Auckland Domain. The City Council at first turned this proposal down, but the Society appointed a committee to approach Dr (later Sir Gilbert) Archey and if necessary the War Memorial Committee which was then engaged on planning the extensions to the museum following the Second World War, to see if an observatory could be incorporated in the plans.
Society Council Minutes June 8, 1949
Mr R D Thompson, president, reported on the deputation to the museum and Dr Archey. This report stated that the prospect of an observatory in conjunction with the proposed extension to the museum would not be very suitable for the Society. After their visit, the committee explored the One Tree Hill and Mt Albert sites, the One Tree Hill site being a very attractive proposition. Mr Thompson reported that Mr B D Smith has very kindly donated his 12 inch reflecting telescope to the Society.
Society Council Minutes March 8, 1950
Professor Burbidge was present by invitation to discuss the observatory. The plan of action is (1) Finalise our plans and approach; (2) Enlist the support of the University and Institute and Museum; (3) Approach the City Council.
We want the City Council to help with a city observatory; the society to provide the instruments; the observatory mainly under Society jurisdiction with a curator on part-time City Council salary; the City Council to cover maintenance as well.
Society Council Minutes Sept 15, 1950
At an interview with Dr Archey, the president and vice-president were granted permission to conduct seeing tests from the top of the museum. Mr Jackson is to make the first test using Dr Corban's binoculars. Tests with larger instruments will follow later.
These tests were satisfactory but slowly the museum went out of the minutes and Mt St John and Mt Hobson came into consideration. In the meantime, efforts to make the Society and astronomy better known continued.
Amateur Astronomer, July 1954
The Society seized the opportunity of the recent transit of Mercury to gain a little publicity for the Society and its objects by arranging a transit expedition to the summit of Mt Eden (664 ft).
More than 100 persons, some of whom were members, visited the hilltop during the hour and saw projected images of the sun and Mercury.
Prior references to the transit party were made in both papers and the Herald and Weekly News both printed photos of the expedition, but unfortunately the reporter present did not repeat the President's words that the whole affair could have been much better observed if Auckland had had a public observatory.
R G Whale, Journal, July 1954
The Society seems to be getting closer to acquiring an Observatory. Following an interview with the Mayor by Dr Corban on June 29th, the Observatory Committee were asked to choose a location on Mt Hobson in conjunction with Mr McPherson of the Parks Committee.
On Tuesday, June 15th, at 12.30 p.m. the Committee again accompanied by Mr McIntosh and a "Star" reporter, met Mr McPherson on the mountain. To our agreeable surprise Mr McPherson was most co-operative and said he could see no reason why we couldn't have the pegged out location, and asked us to go ahead and submit sketch plans to the Council for their approval of the design.
An Auckland firm of Architects were then approached by the writer, with suggestions and tentative ideas of what was required. They gave us sketch plans and a perspective view of an imposing building comprising a Planetarium dome of 60 feet, an Observatory dome of 25 feet, offices, library, and workshop, etc. I produced these to the Committee at the monthly meeting. The plans were approved of with minor alterations and taken to the Parks Committee for their approval. However, they now want the structural details for approval of the City Engineer. At the time of writing this report, the Architects are working on these details. I feel that real progress has now been made and we also have the support of the Mayor and both newspapers. As soon as the Council approve of the plans, a public appeal can be launched, and then Auckland should be leading the rest of New Zealand with an imposing building visible from many parts of the city, and one of the first buildings to greet the eye of overseas visitors entering the harbour.
Zealous Champion
Dr C A Corban was the most zealous champion of the new Observatory and the planetarium. He then strongly favoured (and still does) to complete astronomical facilities worthy of Auckland. (A later president was to comment "He did as much as anyone to raise the enthusiasm of the people").
Dr Corban, Amateur Astronomer, June 1955
My predecessor as president, Mr McIntosh and I, have devoted some effort to securing the sympathy and active support of a few citizens of good standing and public zeal to receive moneys for astronomical purposes and to control the expenditure of them in creating in Auckland an Observatory and a planetarium of which we will be proud. This Board of Trustees which has just been formed, includes the following: Messrs J M Hardcastle, L D Nathan, T W M Ashby, John Grierson, W H Knox and Dr W A Fairclough. I felt privileged to be also a member of the group of trustees.
We have presented a temporary objective of £250,000. It is estimated that it may take slightly more than a year to reach our financial objective.
Dr Corban
I had as a patient a man called Maurice O'Sullivan. He was a science master and he introduced me to Mr Rice, who was then the president of the Auckland Savings Bank. They gave us £2000 - at that time a very big donation.
I later had the pleasure in suggesting that an award be named the Maurice O'Sullivan prize to recognise the services he had done for us.
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